Hair dryer

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is the hair dryer. In the hair dryer, a hollow dryer housing has an inlet port, an outlet port and a front handle. An intake cover is coupled to a rear side of the dryer housing and has a rear handle protruding downwardly from the hollow dryer, for suctioning an outer air into the dryer housing. A nozzle is coupled to the outlet port of the dryer housing. A heating assembly is positioned in the dryer housing and in the intake cover, and includes a hollow assembly body, a support frame, a driving motor, a rotating shaft, and a blowing fan. A shielding member is installed along an inner side of the dryer housing, the intake cover, and the nozzle. Due to this structure, the hair dryer is capable of absorbing and shielding the magnetic wave not to cause human problems such as headache, dermatitis and chronic fatigue.

CLAIMING FOREIGN PRIORITY

[0001] The applicant claims and requests a foreign priority, through theParis Convention for the Protection of Industry Property, based on apatent application filed in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) with thefiling date of Apr. 22, 2002, with the patent application number20-2002-0012176, by the applicant. (See the attached Declaration)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a hair dryer, more particularly,it relates to a hair dryer having a shielding function against magneticwave, which is used for drying and styling hair.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] A hair dryer, which applies an electrical power of a powersupplying part to a dryer body, is used to dry and style the hair byblowing warm or cool air. Various technical models of the hair dryerhave been proposed. The common type of hair dryer will be describedherein with reference to FIG. 6.

[0006]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a generic hairdryer 100. As shown in FIG. 6, the hair dryer 100 mainly includes adryer housing 110, an intake cover 120, and a nozzle 130. An inlet port112 and an outlet port 114 are formed at the interior of the dryerhousing 110. A front handle 116 protrudes downwardly from the lower endof an outer surface of the dryer housing 110. The intake cover 120 iscoupled with the rear side of the dryer housing cover 110. A rear handle124 corresponding to the front handle 116 protrudes downwardly from thelower end of an outer surface of the intake cover 120. The air inlet 122is formed at an opening portion of a one side of the intake cover 120.The nozzle 130 is coupled to the outlet port 114 of the dryer housing120. A discharge grille 132 is vertically installed at the rear end ofthe interior of the nozzle 130.

[0007] The hair dryer 100 further comprises a heating assembly 140 thatis installed at the interior of the dryer housing 110 and the intakecover 120. The heating assembly 140 has an assembly body 142, a drivingmotor 144, and a blowing fan 148. A support frame 144 protrudes from thefront side of the assembly body 142. The driving motor 146 is mounted onthe interior of the assembly body 142, and a part of which is insertedinto the support frame 144. A rotation shaft (not shown) projects out ofthe rear side of the driving motor 146. The blowing fan 148 is forciblyinserted into the rotation shaft (not shown) of the driving motor (146)so that the blowing fan 148 blows an outside air out of the inlet port112 to the outlet port 114 by the rotation of the driving motor 146.

[0008] Further, the hair dryer 100 includes an electrical cord 150, anelectrical switch 152, and a heating wire 154. The electrical cord 150supplies an electrical power to the driving motor 146. The electricalswitch 152 is connected to the electrical cord 150, which controls theopening and closing of the electrical power. The heating wire 154 windsaround the support frame 144 for heating a sucked air through the inletport 112 of the dryer housing 110.

[0009] In the conventional hair dryer structured as above, when the hairdryer 100 is operated by turning on the electrical switch 152, theelectrical power from the electrical power supplying part (not shown) issupplied to the driving motor 146 and the heating wire 154 through theelectrical cord 150. The driving motor (146) is rotated in apredetermined speed of revolution, and the heating wire (154) generatesa heat to a predetermined temperature.

[0010] In this state, the user turns the nozzle 130 of the dryer housing110 toward his head and dries and styles the hair by blowing warm orcool air.

[0011] The heating wire 154 and the driving motor 146 of the heatingassembly 140 generate an electromagnetic field by supplying theelectrical power. The heating wire 154 and the driving motor 146 arecomposed of a magnet, an armature coil and a rotator coil. Thus, anelectromagnetic wave, which is composed of an electronic field and amagnetic field, is generated by the electromagnetic field. Theelectromagnetic wave accordingly kills the living cells or damages thehair by upsetting the nerve system. Moreover, it causes problems forhuman beings such as headache, dermatitis and chronic fatigue.Furthermore, a conductive material easily shields the electronic fieldof the electromagnetic wave but easily fails to shield the electronicfield. Thus, there is the problem that the electronic field is directlytransmitted to the body of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention solves the foregoing problems. It is anobject of the present invention to provide the hair dryer that preventstransmitting of the magnetic wave to the user of the hair dryer byinstalling the shielding member in the interior of the dryer housing.

[0013] In order to achieve the above objects, the present inventionprovides the hair dryer comprising:

[0014] a hollow dryer housing having an inlet port, an outlet port and afront handle, the inlet port being formed at one end of the dryerhousing, the outlet port being formed at the other end of the dryerhousing, and the front handle protruding downwardly from the hollowdryer;

[0015] an intake cover which is coupled to a rear side of the dryerhousing and which has a rear handle protruding downwardly from thehollow dryer so as to correspond to the front handle, for suctioning anouter air into the dryer housing;

[0016] a nozzle which is coupled to the outlet port of the dryerhousing, for discharging warm or cool air to the outside of the dryerhousing;

[0017] a heating assembly which is positioned in the dryer housing andin the intake cover, and which includes a hollow assembly body, asupport frame, a driving motor, a rotating shaft, and a blowing fan, thesupport frame protruding from a front side of the assembly body, thedriving motor being installed at an inner side of the assembly body soas to project toward the support frame, the rotating shaft protrudingfrom the rear side of the driving motor, and driving motor beingpositioned at an inner side of the dryer body and the intake cover, forblowing a heated air to a predetermined temperature through the outletport of the dryer housing; and

[0018] a shielding member which is installed along an inner side of thedryer housing, the intake cover, and the nozzle, for absorbing andshielding an magnetic wave which is generated according to the operationof the heating assembly.

[0019] The shielding member is an alloy consisting of Ni, Si, Mn, C andFe based on the total weight of the alloy.

[0020] As described above, in the hair dryer according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention, the hair dryer is capable ofabsorbing and shielding the magnetic wave generated around the drivingmotor and the heating assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The above objects and other characteristics and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent by describing in detailembodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0022]FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an installed state of ashielding member at a portion of a heating wire of the hair dryeraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an installed state of ashielding member at a portion of a driving motor of the hair dryeraccording to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an installed state of ashielding member at a portion of a blowing fan of the hair dryeraccording to the third embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an installed state of ashielding member at a portion of a nozzle of the hair dryer according tothe fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an installed state of ashielding member at a portion of a discharge grill of the hair dryeraccording to the fifth embodiment of the present invention; and

[0027]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a generic hairdryer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Hereinafter, the hair dryer according to embodiments of thepresent invention will be explained in more detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

EXAMPLE 1

[0029]FIG. 1 is a view showing an installed state of a shielding member270 at a portion of a heating wire 254 of a hair dryer 200 according tothe first embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 1, the hair dryer 200 includes a dryer housing210, an intake cover 220 and a nozzle 230. Further, a heating assembly240 is installed at the interior of the dryer housing 210 and the intakecover 220.

[0031] An inlet port 212 and an outlet port 214 are formed at both endsof the interior of the dryer housing 210. In other words, the inlet port212 is formed at one end of the dryer housing 210, and the outlet port214 is formed at the other end of the dryer housing 210. A front handle216 protrudes downwardly from an outer periphery surface of the dryerhousing 210. The intake cover 220 is coupled to the rear side of thedryer housing 210.

[0032] An air inlet 222 is formed to become one body with an outersurface of the intake cover 220.

[0033] A rear handle 224 corresponding to the front handle 216 protrudesdownwardly from the lower end of an outer periphery surface of theintake cover 220. When the intake cover 220 is coupled to the dryerhousing 210, the front handle 216 is coupled to the rear handle 224.

[0034] A nozzle 230 is mounted in the outlet port 214 of the dryerhousing 210. A discharge grille 232 is mounted between the nozzle 230and the outlet port 214.

[0035] An electrical cord 250 is inserted into the lower end of thefront handle 216 and the rear handle 224 when the front handle 216 iscoupled with the rear handle 224. Preferably, the electrical switch 252is installed at the front handle 216, but the electrical switch 252 isnot limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. The heating wire 254 iswound around the support frame 244 as also explained in more detaillater herein.

[0036] A heating assembly 240 includes an assembly body 242, a supportframe 244, a driving motor 246 and a blowing fan 248. The support frame244 protrudes from a front side of the assembly body 242. A plurality offixing recess (not shown) is formed on an outer periphery edge of thesupport frame 244. A driving motor 246 is provided within an interior ofthe assembly body 242, and inserted into the support frame 244. Arotating shaft 246 a of the driving motor 246 is backwardly projectedtoward the support frame 244. A blowing fan 248 is forcibly insertedinto the rotating shaft 246 a of the driving motor 246.

[0037] A shielding member 270 is installed along an interior of thedryer housing 210, the intake cover 220, and the nozzle 230. Theshielding member 270 is formed in a cylinder-shaped. Preferably, theshielding member 270 is installed at the support frame 244 to wrap theheating wire 254. The shielding member 270 is an alloy consisting of Ni,Si, Mn, C and Fe. Preferably, based on the total weight of the alloy,the shielding member 270 is the alloy consisting of 47.6 wt. % Ni, 0.101wt. % Si, 0.47 wt. % Mn, 0.006 wt. % C and 51, 823 wt. % Fe.

[0038] Hereinafter, the operation of the hair dryer according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention as above will be described indetail.

[0039] At first, to dry and style the washed hair, the user turns on theelectrical switch 252, which is installed at the front handle 216 of thedryer housing 210. At this time, an electrical power is supplied to thedriving motor 246 and the heating wire 254 through the electrical cord250 from an electrical power supplying part (not shown).

[0040] Thus, the driving motor 246 is rotated in a predetermined speedof revolution by the supplied electrical power. Simultaneously, theheating wire 254 generates a heat to a predetermined temperature by thesupplied electrical power. Generally, the speed of revolution of thedriving motor 246 and the temperature of the heat of the heating wire254 have the high function, the medium function and low function. Thefunctions are controlled by the demands of the user. Additionally, thehair dryer 100 can select cool air instead of the heat of the heatingwire 254.

[0041] At this state, the driving motor 246 rotates the blowing fan 248so that an outer air is sucked into the interior of the dryer housing210 of the hair dryer 200 through the air inlet 222 of the intake cover220. After the heating wire 254 heats the sucked air, it is passedthrough the outlet port 214 of the dryer housing 210, the nozzle 230,and the discharge grille 232. Thus, the sucked air is blown toward theoutside of the dryer housing 210.

[0042] Therefore, the hair dryer 200 can be used to dry and style theuser's hair by selectively blowing warm or cool air.

[0043] In this process, during the heating process of the heating wire254, the magnetic wave is generated around the heating wire 254 bysupplying the electrical power. At this time, the shielding member 270,which is mounted on the support frame 244 for wrapping the outer surfaceof the heating wire 254, absorbs and shields the magnetic wave from theheating wire 254 not to pass through the dryer housing 210.

EXAMPLE 2

[0044]FIG. 2 is a view showing an installed state of a shielding member370 at a portion of a driving motor 246 of the hair dryer 200 accordingto the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, preferably, the shielding member 370 iscap-shaped, which has an opened portion at a one surface of thereof. Theopened portion of the shielding member 370 is mounted on the frontsurface of the assembly body 242, and the other portion is in contactwith the support frame 244. Thus, the shielding member 370 covers thedriving motor 246.

[0046] At this state, the user turns on the electrical switch 252 of thehair dryer 200. And then, the driving motor 246 is rotated by the signalof the electrical switch 252. With this process, the magnetic wave,which is generated around the driving motor 246, is absorbed andshielded by the shielding member 370.

[0047] In other words, the shielding member 370 prevents magnetic wavefrom transmitting the outside of the dryer housing 210.

EXAMPLE 3

[0048]FIG. 3 is a view showing an installed state of a shielding member470 at a portion of a blowing fan 248 of the hair dryer 200 according tothe third embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 3, preferably, the shielding member 370 iscylindrical shaped. One end of the shielding member 470 is inserted intothe rear side of the assembly body 242 so as to cover the blowing fan248. At this time, preferably, the shielding member 470 is spaced fromthe intake cover 220 and the air inlet 222. Also, the shielding member470 may be contacted with the intake cover 220 and the air inlet 222.

[0050] In this state, when the user turns on the electrical switch 252of the hair dryer 200, the driving motor 246, is driven and the heatingwire 254 is heated. The magnetic wave is generated around the drivingmotor 246 and the heating wire 254, and then the magnetic wave is leakedout through the intake cover 220. With this process, the magnetic wave,which is generated around the driving motor 246, is absorbed andshielded by the shielding member 470. In other words, the shieldingmember 470 prevents the magnetic wave from transmitting the outside ofthe dryer housing 210.

EXAMPLE 4

[0051]FIG. 4 is a view showing an installed state of a shielding member570 at a portion of a nozzle 230 of the hair dryer 200 according to thefourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, the shielding member 570 is mounted on aninner side wall of the nozzle 230. Preferably, the shielding member 570is cylindrical shaped.

[0053] In this state, when the user turns on the electrical switch 252of the hair dryer 200, the driving motor 246 is driven, and the heatingwire 254 is heated. The magnetic wave is generated around the drivingmotor 246 and the heating wire 254, and then the magnetic wave is leakedout through the outlet port 214, the discharge grille 232 and the nozzle230. With this process, the magnetic wave, which is generated around thedriving motor 246 and the heating assembly 254, is absorbed and shieldedby the shielding member 470. In other words, the shielding member 470prevents the magnetic wave from transmitting the outside of the dryerhousing 210.

EXAMPLE 5

[0054]FIG. 5 is a view showing an installed state of a shielding member670 at a portion of a discharge grill 230 of the hair dryer 200according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 5, the shielding member 670 is verticallyinstalled at the rear end of the nozzle 230. The shielding member 670 iscontacted with one side of the discharge grille 232. Preferably, theshielding member 570 is cylindrical shaped. The shielding member 670 isnet-shaped to pass through the warm and cool air from the outlet port214 of the assembly body 242.

[0056] In this state, when the user turns on the electrical switch 252of the hair dryer 200, the driving motor 246 is driven, and the heatingwire 254 is heated. The magnetic wave is generated around the drivingmotor 246 and the heating wire 254, and then the magnetic wave is leakedout through the outlet port 214, the discharge grille 232 and the nozzle230. In this process, the magnetic wave, which is generated around thedriving motor 246 and the heating assembly 254, is absorbed and shieldedby the shielding member 670. In other words, the shielding member 670prevents the magnetic wave from transmitting the outside of the dryerhousing 210.

[0057] In the hair dryer according to the embodiments of the presentinvention constructed as described above, the shielding member ismounted on the inner side of the dryer housing of the hair dryer. Due tothis structure, the hair dryer as described above is capable ofabsorbing and shielding the magnetic wave generated around the drivingmotor and the heating assembly. Accordingly, the hair dryer prevents themagnetic wave from killing of the living cells or damaging of the hairby upsetting the nerve system. Moreover, it prevents the magnetic wavefrom causing human problems such as headache, dermatitis and chronicfatigue.

[0058] While the present invention has been particularly shown anddescribed with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be effected therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair dryer comprising: a hollow dryer housinghaving an inlet port, an outlet port and a front handle, the inlet portbeing formed at one end of the interior of the dryer housing, the outletport being formed at the other end of the interior of the dryer housing,and the front handle protruding downwardly from outer surface of thehollow dryer; an intake cover which is coupled to a rear side of thedryer housing and which has a rear handle protruding downwardly from thehollow dryer so as to correspond to the front handle, for suctioning anouter air into the dryer housing; a nozzle which is coupled to theoutlet port of the dryer housing, for discharging warm or cool air tothe outside of the dryer housing; a heating assembly which is positionedin the interior of the dryer housing and the intake cover, and whichincludes a hollow assembly body, a support frame, a driving motor, arotating shaft, and a blowing fan, the support frame protruding from afront side of the assembly body, the driving motor being installed at aninterior of the assembly body so as to project toward the support frame,the rotating shaft protruding from the rear side of the driving motor,and driving motor being positioned at an interior of the dryer body andthe intake cover, for blowing a heated air to a predeterminedtemperature through the outlet port of the dryer housing; and ashielding member which is installed at an interior of the dryer housing,the intake cover, and the nozzle, for absorbing and shielding a magneticwave which is generated according to the operation of the heatingassembly.
 2. The hair dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shieldingmember is an alloy consisting of Ni, Si, Mn, C and Fe based on the totalweight of the alloy.
 3. The hair dryer as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe shielding member is the alloy for which the relative permeability ismore than 10,000 so as to emit the magnetic wave generated from thedryer housing by the heat.
 4. The hair dryer as claimed in claim 1,wherein the shielding member is mounted on the support frame so as towrap the heating wire of the heating assembly.
 5. The hair dryer asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the shielding member is cap-shaped having anopened portion of which is mounted on the front side of the assemblybody.
 6. The hair dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shieldingmember is inserted into the rear side of the assembly body so as to wrapthe blowing fan.
 7. The hair dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein theshielding member is in contact with the inner wall of the nozzle.
 8. Thehair dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shielding member is acircular plate, the shielding member being vertically installed at arear end of the nozzle.